Page 45 of Pretty Broken Things

Coach Greer comes in and finds us all on the verge of fighting each other. As much as he’s been trying to turn us into one team, and even though it seems like it has been working, we’re still two separate groups, and we would likely always be. Coach at least doesn’t pander to the Ocean Bluff elite. His record stands for itself, and they could either spoil their sons, or win. He makes it clear every day which one he will always choose.

He gets in Blair’s face. “Get out of my locker room. Your season is over.”

“My dad will have something to say about this,” Blair throws out the standard threat in the back pocket of every rich kid.

Coach shrugs. “Let him. I’ve been recruited by the University of Washington. I think it’s time I stopped coaching rich pricks like you.”

Blair storms out of the locker room in a huff, but we all ignore him. Coach gets in my face, grabs my shoulder pads and shakes me. “If you let that asshole get in your head I’ll kick your ass when this game is over. Whatever it is, you leave it be until the game is over.”

His words aren’t very motivating, but they do force me to prioritize my problems. Right now it’s the other team practically guessing our plays.

“Motherfucker,” I shout. I kick over a bench, and everyone turns to look at me. I point in the direction Blair went. “I think that asshole handed our playbook to the other team.”

“What do we do?” one of the guys asks.

All the Parkers on the team look at each other and smile. “We stop playing safe.”

We run out onto the field, and from the snap we’re on fire. Shane and I are practically reading each other’s minds the rest of the game. They still don’t make it easy, and we have to fight for every yard we gain. They don’t have the advantage of knowing our play though. The Ocean Bluff players are all benched as those of us from the Park start playing our version of football. One we learned playing in fields near bars and warehouses. We tackled each other on gravel and debris, and smiled through the entire game.

We’ve managed to claw our way back to tie the game. There’s only enough time on the clock for one more play. If we can maintain possession of the ball we can force the game into overtime. A touchdown is unlikely with the amount of yards we need to gain. Then Shane starts running after the snap, and I know instantly what he wants me to do.

Coach is going to be pissed if this Hail Mary doesn’t work, but then our season will be over and we won’t ever play for him again. Shane and I have practiced this over the years, but no coach would ever try it under these circumstances. It’s one thing to throw a sixty-yard pass when there’s no opposing team. I’ve managed to get it to Shane every time we screwed around in the past, but we’ve never practiced under pressure before. I don’t know if it’s because I’m still heated from my run in with Blair, but logical thinking escapes me. I pull my arm back, and launch the ball with everything I’ve got.

Our entire team holds its breath while watching the ball spiral through the air. Even the fans have gone silent. Shane catches the ball, and runs unopposed into the end zone. Even the other team didn’t think we could make it. The clock runs out, and the stands erupt in cheers.

Before I make it off the field a scout from UCLA approaches me. It’s a fantastic school, great football team, maybe a bit too close to Playa for my liking, but I’d be an idiot to turn down a scholarship. We talk for a few minutes, and shake hands on a verbal commitment.

I should be on top of the world. We’re going on to state, and I’m going to be the first person in my family to go to college. Then I see Jace leaning toward Tessa. His arm is above her head, and they’re so focused on each other they don’t seem to notice the game is over.

I storm back to the locker room. Now isn’t the time to talk to her, but I will. And this time she won’t be getting away from me.

ChapterTwenty-One

Ford

It’s latewhen I get home from the game, and the house is empty. Wendell took my mom to some business dinner now that her bruises have faded enough to be covered up with make-up. I have no idea where Tessa is, only that her car isn’t in the driveway, and there are no signs of life inside of this house.

I try waiting up for her in the kitchen, but after that game, I’m wiped. After an hour I give up and make my way up to my room. Despite my exhaustion, sleep doesn’t come easy. I toss and turn imagining her with that asshole Jace Carrington.

I toss and turn for over an hour when I hear her heels click on the stairs. The Tessa I have been spending time with wouldn’t have worn a dress and heels to a football game. I guess she really isn’t my Tessa anymore. Still, I need to hear it from her.

I give her a few minutes to settle in before I creep across the hall. I need to catch her off guard, because I’m done playing her games. She’s going to tell me what the fuck is going on. If she insists that I move on, she needs to tell me why.

Tessa is in bed when I enter her room, but not sleeping yet. The moment she sees me, she pulls the covers up to her chin. I shake my head. “Like I haven’t seen all of you. Tasted all of you. Now you choose to hide from me? I guess it makes sense considering you’ve been running from me for the last couple of weeks.”

“You don’t understand,” she whispers.

Stalking across the room, I climb on to her bed. I tell myself I’m trying to intimidate her to finally tell me the truth, but deep down I know I just want to be close to her. I saw her in a compromising position with her ex tonight, and yet I still want her. I wonder if there is anything she can tell me that will end this ache I have for her.

“So make me understand. Please, Vixen, I can’t take any more of this. We were solid before your dad came back. I didn’t think there was anything he could offer you that would make you turn your back on me.” I’m begging her, because I have no shame left. This feeling is why I’ve avoided falling in love. She holds my heart in the palm of her hand, and if she squeezes it any tighter the fractured pieces are going to shatter completely.

She looks down and picks at a stray thread on her blanket. “There was one thing.”

“I hope it was worth it,” I say bitterly.

Tessa looks up at me. Her eyes seem darker with the misery I see in them. “Maybe someday you’ll understand and forgive me.”

“Why can’t that day be today?” Even I hear the desperation in my voice. I’m losing her. I can feel it.

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